Bow Sling with Cam Cover Fastener System

ABSTRACT

A bow sling has a central member. The central member has a first cam cover at a first end of the central member. The first cam cover has a cord with a fixed portion attached to the first cam cover and spaced from the central member. The central member has a first cam cover cord connector. The first cam cover cord has a loose portion releasably attachable to the first cam cover cord connector. The central member may have a second cam cover on a second end opposite the first end. The second cam cover may have a cord with a fixed portion attached to the second cam cover and spaced from the central member. The central member may have a second cam cover cord connector. The second cam cover cord may have a loose portion releasably attachable to the second cam cover cord connector.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The disclosure is directed to a bow sling. The bow sling has a centralmember. The central member has a first cam cover at a first end of thecentral member. The first cam cover has a cord with a fixed portionattached to the first cam cover. The central member has a first camcover cord connector. The first cam cover cord has a loose portionreleasably attachable to the first cam cover cord connector. The centralmember may have a second cam cover on a second end opposite the firstend. The second cam cover may have a cord with a fixed portion attachedto the second cam cover. The central member may have a second cam covercord connector. The second cam cover cord may have a loose portionreleasably attachable to the second cam cover cord connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary bow sling;

FIG. 2 is an alternative perspective view of the bow sling of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bow sling of FIG. 1 with a shoulder harnessof the bow sling removed to illustrate first and second cam coverconnectors;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the bow sling of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the bow sling of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the bow sling of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of detail area 7-7 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The bow sling 10 has a central member 12. The central member 12 may havea first cam cover 14 at a first end of the central member and may have asecond cam 16 cover at a second end of the central member opposite thefirst end. Depending on the configuration of the bow sling and a bow tobe used with the bow sling, only one cam cover may be provided at oneend of the central member, and the opposite second end may have anotherfixture to attach to the bow. The cam cover (first and/or second) maycomprise a hood-like member with a hollow interior sized and shaped in amanner to receive the cam of the bow when the cam of the bow is insertedtherein.

In one embodiment, the central member may be a strap member extendinglongitudinally with the first and second cam covers at opposite ends ofthe strap member. In such a configuration, the central member does notcover the strings of the bow. In such a configuration, the centralmember may be adjustable in length to accommodate bows of differentsizes. In such a configuration, the outer periphery of the cam cover maybe provided with an elastic band and/or drawstring to allow the camcover to conform to the cam of the bow.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the central member 12 has sidepanels 18,20 and a spine 22 that forms a generally U-shaped crosssection and defines an interior into which the strings of the bow may bereceived. The outer periphery of the side panels 18,20 may be providedwith an elastic band and/or drawstring to allow the central member 12 toconform to the size and shape of the bow. The cam cover 14,16 may beattached to the side panels 18,20 and the spine 22 so the bow sling maybe stretched outward as needed to receive the bow with the cam of thebow in the cam cover. The cam cover 14,16 may then be secured in placearound the cam of the bow using a system as described below. In thealternative, the cam cover may be attached only to the spine and not theside panels. In this configuration, the cam cover may be pivoted aboutits connection with the spine to allow the bow to be inserted in thecentral member. Once the bow is inserted in the central member, the camcover may be moved to a position to cover the cam of the bow and securedin place, for instance, using a system as described below.

The bow sling 10 may include a shoulder harness 24. The shoulder harness24 may be releasably attached to the central member at positionsadjacent to the first and second ends of the central member. Theshoulder harness may include a pocket 25.

The bow sling 10 may also include one or more bow securing straps 26.The bow securing strap 26 may extend from one side panel 18 of thecentral member and releasably connect to the opposite side panel 20 ofthe central member. In use, the bow securing strap 26 may be directedfrom one side panel 18, around a central riser portion of the bow (notshown), and releasably attached to the opposite side panel 20 of thecentral member. As shown in the drawings, two bow securing straps 26 areprovided in an intermediate portion of the central member 12. The end ofthe bow securing strap 26 may have a clip portion 30 that releasablyconnects with a mating clip portion (not shown) on the opposite sidepanel 20 of the central member. The mating clip portion (not shown) maybe provided within a pocket 30. Thus, when the clip portion 28 of thebow securing strap 26 is connected with the mating clip portion in thepocket 30, the clip is protected from inadvertent contact and potentialdisconnection. The bow securing strap 26 may have a buckle 32 allowingadjustment of the length of the bow securing strap to accommodate bowsof different sizes. A cushioning pad 34 may extend from the outerperiphery of the central member 12 adjacent to the bow securing strap26. The cushioning pad 34 may be disposed between the bow securing strapand the central riser portion of the bow to protect the central riserportion of the bow from rubbing against the strap.

The cam cover (first and/or second) 14,16 may have a cord 40,42 with afixed portion 44,46 attached to the cam cover and spaced from the spine22 of the central member 12. As shown in the drawings, the cord 40,42 isfixed to the cam cover 14,16 at a position corresponding to the openingin the central member 12 between the side panels 18,20 that accommodatesthe bow. The central member 12 has a cam cover cord connector 50,52 forthe respective cam cover cord (first and/or second) 40,42. The cam covercord connector 50,52 may be disposed on the spine 22 of the centralmember 12 or otherwise facing the shoulder harness 24 of the bow sling.The cam cover cord 40,42 has a loose portion 54,56 releasably attachableto the cam cover cord connector. The cam cover cord loose end 54,56 mayinclude a hook 58,60 that cooperates with the cam cover cord connector50,52 of the central member 12. The cam cover cord connector 50,52 maybe a loop that cooperates with the hook to releasably connect the camcover cord to the cam cover cord connector. The hook and loop may bereversed on the central member and the cam cover. Other styles of quickdisconnects between the cam cover cord and cord connector may also beprovided, for instance, cooperating hook and loop (e.g., Velcro™)material, snaps, clips, magnets, etc. The cam cover cord may be elasticand may be a loop extending around both sides of the cam cover.

As will be described in more detail below, the cam cover cord connector50,52 may be one of a plurality of cam cover cord connectors. In oneembodiment, the cam cover cord connector 50,52 may comprise a pluralityof loops, and each loop in the plurality of loops may be spaced apartfrom one another along a length of the central member. In the drawings,the first cam cover cord connector 50 comprises a first strap member.The first strap member is attached to the spine of the central memberwith spaced apart stitch lines extending across a width of the firststrap member. The spaced apart stitch lines form loops in the firststrap member that extend from the first end of the central member towardthe second end of the central member. The hook 58 of the first cam covercord loose end 54 may cooperate with each loop in the plurality of loopsof the first strap member to secure the first cam cover 14 around thecam of the bow. The second cam cover cord connector 52 may be configuredin a similar manner to accommodate the second cam cover 16, when thesecond cam cover is provided. As shown in the drawings, the first andsecond strap members are integrated (and be monolithically one strap)and extend along the longitudinal length of the central member, and acarrying handle 70 may be disposed between the first and second strapmembers. Thus, depending upon the size of the bow used with the bowsling, the first cam cover cord (and the second cam cover cord, as thecase may be) may be releasably connected to different cord connectors tosecure the cam cover around the bow and assist in retaining the bow inthe bow sling.

When the user desired to gain access to the bow, the user may grasp thecam cover adjacent to the cam cover cord fixed end, and move the camcover towards the spine of the central member so the cam cover comes offthe cam. The elasticity of the cam cover cord allows the user to movethe cam cover when the cam cover cord is connected to the cam cover cordconnector. The cam cover cord may also be disconnected from the camcover cord connector to release tension and allow the cam cover to beremoved from the cam. The cam cover cord may also be disconnected fromone cam cover cord connector and connected to another cam coverconnector to release tension sufficiently to allow the cam cover to beremoved from the cam.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methodsherein described without departing from the scope of the invention, itis intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description andshown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not as limiting. The breadth and scope the present invention shouldnot be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

What is claimed:
 1. A bow sling comprising a central member, the centralmember having a first cam cover at a first end of the central member,the central member having a first cam cover cord connector, the firstcam cover having a cord, the first cam cover cord having a fixed portionattached to the first cam cover, the fixed portion of the first camcover cord being spaced from the first cord connector of the centralmember, the first cam cover cord having a loose portion adapted andconfigured to be releasably attached to the first cam cover cordconnector.
 2. The bow sling of claim 1 wherein the first cam cover cordconnector of the central member is one of a plurality of first cam covercord connectors.
 3. The bow sling of claim 1 wherein the first cam covercord loose end includes a hook that cooperates with the first cam covercord connector of the central member.
 4. The bow sling of claim 3wherein the first cam cover cord connector comprises a plurality ofloops, each loop in the plurality of loops being spaced apart from oneanother along the central member.
 5. The bow sling of claim 1 whereinthe first cam cover cord connector is disposed on the central memberfacing a shoulder harness of the bow sling.
 6. The bow sling of claim 1wherein the central member has a second cam cover on a second endopposite the first end, the central member has a second cam cover cordconnector, the second cam cover has a cord, the second cam cover cordhas a fixed portion attached to the second cam cover, the fixed portionof the second cam cover cord is spaced from the second cam cover cordconnector of the central member, the second cam cover cord has a looseportion adapted and configured to be releasably attached to the secondcam cover cord connector.
 7. The bow sling of claim 6 wherein the secondcam cover cord connector of the central member is one of a plurality ofsecond cam cover cord connectors.
 8. The bow sling of claim 6 whereinthe second cam cover cord loose end includes a hook that cooperates withthe second cam cover cord connector of the central member.
 9. The bowsling of claim 8 wherein the second cam cover cord connector comprises aplurality of loops, each loop in the plurality of loops being spacedapart from one another along the central member.
 10. The bow sling ofclaim 6 wherein the second cam cover cord connector is disposed on thecentral member facing a shoulder harness of the bow sling.
 11. The bowsling of claim 1 wherein the first cord connector comprises a firststrap member.
 12. The bow sling of claim 11 wherein the first strapmember has spaced apart stitch lines extending across a width of thefirst strap member.
 13. The bow sling of claim 12, wherein the firststrap member spaced apart stitch lines comprise a plurality of loopsalong the first strap member.
 14. The bow sling of claim 13, wherein thefirst cam cover cord loose end includes a hook that cooperates with eachloop in the plurality of loops of the first strap member.
 15. The bowsling of claim 6, wherein the second cord connector comprises a strapmember.
 16. The bow sling of claim 15, wherein the second strap memberhas spaced apart stitch lines extending across a width of the secondstrap member.
 17. The bow sling of claim 16, wherein the second strapmember spaced apart stitch lines comprise a plurality of loops along thesecond strap member.
 18. The bow sling of claim 17, wherein the secondcam cover cord loose end includes a hook that cooperates with each loopin the plurality of loops of the second strap member.
 19. The bow slingof claim 6: wherein the central member has a first strap memberextending in a direction from the first end to the second end of thecentral member, the first strap member comprises the first cordconnector; wherein the central member has a second strap memberextending in a direction from the second end to the first end of thecentral member, the second strap member comprises the second cordconnector; and further comprising a carrying handle integrated with anddisposed between the first and second strap members.
 20. The bow slingof claim 1 wherein the central member is adapted and configured to coverstrings of a bow.
 21. The bow sling of claim 1 further comprising ashoulder harness releasably attached to the central member.
 22. The bowsling of claim 1 further comprising a strap adapted and configured toextend around a central riser portion of a bow and releasably attachedto the central member.